Device for supplying a plurality of service points, such as lubricating points

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supplying a viscous material to locations, comprises:
         a pump;   a supply line in fluid communication with the pump;   a first main line having a first compression chamber;   a second main line having a second compression chamber;   a 3/2-way valve for placing the supply line in fluid communication with either the first main line or the second main line;   a two-line distributor having a control piston; and   a controller for controlling the pump and the 3/2-way valve, such that
           (i) at a start of a cycle the pump operates to deliver the viscous material, with the 3/2-way valve positioned so as to place the supply line in fluid communication with the first main line, through the supply line and into the first main line, and then   (ii) through pressure build-up in the first main line, resulting from the viscous material flowing through the supply line into the first main line, the two-line distributor operates to transport the viscous material, by movement of the control piston, into the second compression chamber and to a plurality of the locations.

The invention relates to a device for supplying several lubricationsites or other servicing sites, such as lubrication sites, withlubricant or like viscous delivery media by use of a central pump.

For supply of several machine or lubrication site groups via a centralpumping station with a viscous delivery medium, such as lubricant,either two-line systems or ejector section installations areconventionally employed. Distances between machines and lubrication sitegroups are bridged by lines of differing dimensions. In a case oftwo-line installations for lubricant, two main lines and additionalshut-off valves in front of lubricant distributors are required. In acase of ejector section installations for lubricants, an additional airdrive line to individual ejectors is required in addition to a lubricantsupply line, which meters a delivery medium, such as the lubricant,volumetrically. In addition, for each ejector a control and maintenanceunit is necessary.

The present invention addresses a problem of proposing a deliverymedium, in particular a lubricant supply device of the above describedtype, which is simpler in terms of construction and operation andoperates functionally reliably.

This task is solved, for example, in that the device is equipped with: atwo-line distributor; a compression chamber for each of first and secondmain lines; a connection block assigned to the two-line distributor andcontaining, for example, a 3/2-way valve; a supply line connecting apump with the connection block; a return line, branching off the supplyline, to a delivery media reservoir, such as lubricant reservoir of thepump; a 2/2-way valve in the return line; and a controller forperforming control, such that:

-   -   at a start of a cycle the pump starts to deliver a delivery        medium;    -   simultaneously the 2/2-way valve in the return line is closed,        while the 3/2-way valve opens a passage from the supply line to        a first main line;    -   through pressure build-up in the first main line the two-line        distributor operates, whereby the delivery medium, such as        lubricant, is transported by a control piston of a delivery        medium distributor, in particular lubricant distributor, into        the compression chamber of the second main line, as well as to        50% of servicing sites, such as lubrication sites, whereby these        sites are supplied with delivery medium, such as lubricant;    -   the pump changes into a resting position;    -   the 2/2-way valve is opened and thereby the supply line and the        first main line are relieved from pressure;    -   optionally, after passage of a resting time, the pump starts to        deliver again, wherein the 2/2-way valve in the return line is        closed again, and the 3/2-way valve switches from the supply        line to the second main line;    -   due to pressure build-up in the second main line, the two-line        distributor starts operating in an opposite direction as        previously, whereby the delivery medium, such as lubricant, is        transported by the control piston of the delivery medium        distributor, in particular lubricant distributor, into the        compression chamber of the first main line, as well as to the        other 50% of the servicing sites, such as lubrication sites,        whereby these sites are supplied with the delivery medium;    -   the pump changes to its starting resting position; and    -   the 2/2-way valve opens and thereby the supply line and the        second main line are relieved from pressure, so that a next work        cycle can start as before.

For reliable functional operation the pump can have associated with it apressure switch, which, when a specified pressure in the supply line isreached, switches the pump into a resting position until—for example,after passage of a resting time—it starts delivering again.

For control of an operational function of the device of the inventionthe control piston of the two-line distributor can be provided with twocontrol pins, which cooperate for example with proximity switches.

For extension of the device, it is also possible to have at least onefurther two-line distributor succeed the two-line distributor connectedin series via the main lines.

Additional characteristics, advantages and application feasibilities ofthe invention are evident on the basis of a succeeding description ofembodiment examples of the invention in conjunction with the drawing.All described and/or graphically represented characteristics bythemselves or in any combination form the subject matter of theinvention, independently of their combination in individual claims ortheir reference back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The sole FIGURE illustrates schematically a lubricant servicing deviceof the invention.

This device is structured as follows:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A pump 1 driven by a motor 9 is connected across a supply line 5 of, forexample, several meters, to a connection C of a connection block 4comprising a 3/2-way valve of a two-line distributor 2. The 3/2-wayvalve of the connection block 4 is set such that two main lines A, Bsupply the two-line distributor 2, for example via several meters ofline.

From the supply line 5 a return line 6 branches off in the proximity ofthe pump 1, which return line is equipped with a 2/2-way valve 8 andterminates in a lubricant reservoir 7 of pump 1. In the supply line 5,or the return line 6, a (not shown) pressure switch is installed in thevicinity of pump 1.

At a start this installation is relieved from pressure since the 2/2-wayvalve 8 at the pump 1 is open flow-free. The 3/2-way valve 4 in theconnection block of the two-line distributor 2 has flow-free passagefrom the supply line 5 and the connection C to the main line B. Afterpassage of a resting time, the pump 1 starts delivering. The 2/2-wayvalve 8 is simultaneously closed and the 3/2-way valve 4 is switchedfrom main line B to main line A. Due to pressure build-up in the supplyline 5 and the main line A, the two-line distributor 2 is operational,whereby drive lubricant therein is transported into a compressionchamber of the main line B and to 50% of lubrication sites connected tothe two-line distributor 2, whereby these sites are supplied withlubricant.

With sufficient pressure build-up the pressure switch is activated andthe pump 1 switches into a resting position. Thereupon the 2/2-way valve8 in the return line 6 is opened, such that the main line A and thesupply line 5 are relieved from pressure.

After a renewed passage of a rest time, pump 1 starts to deliver again.The 2/2-way valve 8 on pump 1 closes, and the 3/2-way valve switchesfrom main line A to the main line B. Due to pressure build-up in thesupply line 5 and the main line B, the two-line distributor 2 nowoperates in a direction opposite to the one before, whereby the drivelubricant therein arrives in a compression chamber of the main line Aand to the other 50% of the lubrication sites connected to the two-linedistributor 2, whereby these sites are supplied with lubricant.

With adequate pressure build-up, the pressure switch is again activated,pump 1 is switched into a resting position, the 2/2-way valve 8 isopened and the main line B with the supply line 5 is relieved ofpressure, such that a new operating cycle can start.

A, not shown, delivery piston of the two-line distributor 2 is provided,for example, with two control pins, which can be monitored withproximity switches. It is also possible to insert, following thetwo-line distributor 2, a second two-line distributor 2′, connected inseries via main lines A, B.

An advantage of the device according to the invention compared toconventional two-line installations is that a second supply line isomitted. Compared to ejector installations, a complete control line(compressed air line) with a maintenance unit is not needed. Consumptionof drive medium is omitted.

Operation can take place with higher pressures, and various meteringfeasibilities are possible.

In all cases, mounting of the device according to the invention issimple, and cost in terms of material and mounting is low, becauseproven standard components can be utilized for its construction.

The inventive concept is not only restricted to supply of lubricationsites; it can equally well be applied to other viscous materials (andnot only lubricants) and other servicing sites (and not only lubricationsites).

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Pump-   2, 2′ Two-line distributor-   3 Compression Chamber-   4 3/2-way valve-   5 Supply Line-   6 Return Line-   7 Lubricant Reservoir-   8 2/2-way valve-   9 Motor-   A First Main Line-   B Second Main Line-   C Connection

1. An apparatus for supplying a viscous material to locations,comprising: a pump; a supply line in fluid communication with said pump;a first main line having a first compression chamber; a second main linehaving a second compression chamber; a 3/2-way valve for placing saidsupply line in fluid communication with either said first main line orsaid second main line; a two-line distributor having a control piston;and a controller for controlling said pump and said 3/2-way valve, suchthat (i) at a start of a cycle said pump operates to deliver the viscousmaterial, with said 3/2-way valve positioned so as to place said supplyline in fluid communication with said first main line, through saidsupply line and into said first main line, and then (ii) throughpressure build-up in said first main line, resulting from the viscousmaterial flowing through said supply line into said first main line,said two-line distributor operates to transport the viscous material, bymovement of said control piston, into said second compression chamberand to a plurality of the locations.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1, further comprising: a return line branching from said supply line toa viscous material reservoir; and a 2/2-way valve in said return line,wherein said controller is also for controlling said pump and said2/2-way valve such that (i) at the start of the cycle said 2/2-way valveis closed, and (ii) after the viscous material has been transported bymovement of said control piston, said pump switches into a resting modeand said 2/2-way valve is opened to relieve said supply line and saidfirst main line from pressure due to the viscous fluid in said supplyline flowing through said return line and into the viscous materialreservoir.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said 3/2-wayvalve is in a connection block.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the viscous material is a lubricant, the locations arelubrication sites, and the plurality of the locations is one half of thelocations.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: apressure switch, associated with said pump, for switching said pump intothe resting mode when a specified pressure in said supply line isreached.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controlpiston includes at least one control pin for cooperating with aproximity switch.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, furthercomprising: another two-line distributor connected in series with saidtwo-line distributor via said first and second main lines.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control piston includes atleast one control pin for cooperating with a proximity switch.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: another two-linedistributor connected in series with said two-line distributor via saidfirst and second main lines.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 4,further comprising: another two-line distributor connected in serieswith said two-line distributor via said first and second main lines. 11.The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller is forfurther controlling said pump, said 2/2-way valve and said 3/2-way valvesuch that (i) after passage of a resting time, said pump is removed fromthe resting mode and operates to deliver the lubricant, with said2/2-way valve closed and said 3/2-way valve positioned so as to placesaid supply line in fluid communication with said second main line,through said supply line and into said second main line, then (ii)through pressure build-up in said second main line, resulting from thelubricant flowing through said supply line into said second main line,said two-line distributor operates to transport the lubricant, bymovement of said control piston, into said first compression chamber andto the other half of the lubrication sites, and (iii) after thelubricant has been transported by movement of said control piston intosaid first compression chamber and to the other half of the lubricationsites, said pump switches into a resting mode and said 2/2-way valve isopened to relieve said supply line and said second main line frompressure due to the lubricant in said supply line flowing through saidreturn line and into the viscous material reservoir, so as to completethe work cycle.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidcontroller is for further controlling said pump, said 2/2-way valve andsaid 3/2-way valve such that (i) after passage of a resting time, saidpump is removed from the resting mode and operates to deliver theviscous material, with said 2/2-way valve closed and said 3/2-way valvepositioned so as to place said supply line in fluid communication withsaid second main line, through said supply line and into said secondmain line, then (ii) through pressure build-up in said second main line,resulting from the viscous material flowing through said supply lineinto said second main line, said two-line distributor operates totransport the viscous material, by movement of said control piston, intosaid first compression chamber and to another plurality of thelocations, and (iii) after the viscous material has been transported bymovement of said control piston into said first compression chamber andto the another plurality of the locations, said pump switches into aresting mode and said 2/2-way valve is opened to relieve said supplyline and said second main line from pressure due to the viscous materialin said supply line flowing through said return line and into theviscous material reservoir, so as to complete the work cycle.
 13. Theapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a pressure switch,associated with said pump, for switching said pump into the resting modewhen a specified pressure in said supply line is reached.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control piston includes atleast one control pin for cooperating with a proximity switch.
 15. Theapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: another two-linedistributor connected in series with said two-line distributor via saidfirst and second main lines.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising: a pressure switch, associated with said pump, forswitching said pump into the resting mode when a specified pressure insaid supply line is reached.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said control piston includes at least one control pin forcooperating with a proximity switch.
 18. The apparatus according toclaim 2, further comprising: another two-line distributor connected inseries with said two-line distributor via said first and second mainlines.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlpiston includes at least one control pin for cooperating with aproximity switch.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: another two-line distributor connected in series with saidtwo-line distributor via said first and second main lines.